Take it from us: finding a flat in Prague is no joke! It can be really hard work, especially if you don’t speak Czech. The housing market around here is super saturated these days and new listings get snatched up in the blink of an eye, so you really have to be on your game at all times if you want this to be a quick process. Lucky for you, we’re here to share with you some of the best tips for finding a flat in Prague for your semester or year abroad.

But, before we get to exactly how to find a flat in Prague, it’s important to understand exactly what you want and what you’re looking for, as the conditions and types of accommodation available can be very different from your home country.

Types of accommodation in Prague

Student housing

More and more international students are coming to Prague every year, and the locals have taken notice. As a result, there are a lot of options exclusively for student housing around the city. You can rent actual dorm rooms at Charles University or check out one of the non-affiliated companies specifically geared towards students, like Zeitraum , Student Room Flat, and Erasmus in Prague. These types of accommodations in Prague will put you in buildings filled mostly with students and they will also be more budget-friendly, although you may not have as much privacy or convenience as you would with some of the other housing options in Prague.

Signing a rental contract

The other obvious option is renting your own flat in Prague or teaming up with some fellow students to find a flat that you’ll have all to yourselves. With this option, you will deal directly with the landlord and you will agree on the terms of the contract with that person. Depending on what you’re looking for, looking for flats to rent like this can be tricky as the descriptions can be confusing.

If you’re alone, your cheapest option will most likely be a studio. If you’re looking for more space, familiarize yourself with the different types of flats available. For example, 1+kk means one room plus a kitchen, 2+1 means two rooms and one of them most likely includes a kitchen, and so on. The first number is the number of rooms, kk means kitchen, and if it’s simply a +1 at the end, the kitchen is usually included in one of the rooms mentioned in the first number.

These flats can come furnished or unfurnished, equipped with washing machines or not, and so on, so it’s important to visit the flat and make sure it meets all your requirements before agreeing to anything or putting down any money.

Flatshare

If you’re looking to meet people and you don’t mind sharing a living space with strangers, this is the best option for you to find a flat in Prague! With the amount of people moving all over the city, there’s bound to be a flatshare out there that’s perfect for you.

Just be aware of what you’re looking for if you decide to go this route: some landlords won’t sign visa paperwork until after you’ve lived there for a few months, while others don’t even know the tenants are subletting rooms and you may not even sign a contract. On the one hand, this is great because it gives you the freedom to move out at the drop of a hat if you’re not happy in the place, but on the other it can also get you screwed over because your rights as a tenant are not respected. Be alert and make sure you feel comfortable when you’re asking all these questions before you agree to anything so there are no surprises later!

How to find a flat in Prague

Now that you’re familiar with the different types of accommodation in Prague for students, let’s get into the hard stuff: actually finding a place to live.

Join Facebook groups

Especially if you’re looking for a flatshare situation, this is going to be super helpful for you. Groups like “Flatshare in Prague” and the like get tons of new posts every day from people looking for new flatmates. Sometimes realtors will even post full flats available for rent in these groups. If you stay on top of those, you’re sure to find something that fits your needs. Just be sure to be friendly and polite when messaging people – the people living in the flat already have the right to choose whoever they want to move in with them, so give them a reason to pick you! If you’re not finding any accommodation posts that strike your fancy, you can also team up with other flatshare searchers and look together to make things easier.

One thing to be careful of on Facebook: scams and fake offers. Be sure to check the Facebook profile of the person who posted the room and DO NOT under any circumstances send money in advance without making sure it is a real offer. If you need us to visit a flat for you, we will absolutely do so – just send us a direct message!

There are many Facebook groups you can join to find a flat or a flatshare without any real estate agency fees. And, once you’ve found your flat in Prague, you can use these groups to easily find new flatmates, as well. Check out the following Facebook groups:

If you don’t find anything on these websites particularly satisfying, there are always new listings popping up each day and there are so many more websites that will show up if you just give it a quick Google search!

Ask around!

Sometimes the best thing to do is to ask around to people you know who are already living in Prague! Chances are most people know someone who is moving or someone who has a free room they’re looking to rent out. Half the battle is just having the right luck. So, if you have friends, acquaintances, or other connections in Prague, don’t be afraid to reach out! Or, if you have friends who have studied abroad here before but are no longer in the city, ask them to send you some contacts. The people in Prague know how hard it is to find accommodation here, so no one is going to blame you for grasping at straws and most people are going to be willing to help.

Contact a realtor

This is clearly a more expensive option to find a flat in Prague because it will involve a real estate commission fee, but sometimes when times get tough, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. If you get really desperate, you can always contact a real estate agency, such as Remax if you’re looking for an international and familiar name. Tell them your budget and what you’re looking for, and have them set up suitable viewings for you. All you have to do is show up to the viewings, decide yes or no, and pay them the commission fee once you settle on a place.

With all these tips and tricks, finding a flat in Prague will be a much easier process for you. Just be sure to stay on top of your game and be prepared to commit to one you like fairly quickly, as flats go pretty quickly around here! If you have other tips, tricks or recommendations on how to find a flat in Prague, feel free to share them below.